Heel-seat fitting machine



July 29, 1941.

J. W. FRENCH HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Fil ed June 7, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 g Q 9w R I-m mm vh 8 o g Q 3, Q m N a iQ w 8 I vw ww l 7 @m v Q I N/ENTUH July 29, 1941.

J. w. FRENCH v 2,250,665

HEEL- SEAT FITTING MACHINE Wl/ENTUR' A MFM L52 A? v July 29,- 1941. J. w. FRENCH HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 29, 1941. J. w. FRENCH HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed June "I, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 29, 1941.

J. w. FRENCH HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 M/EA/mm Patented July 29, 1941 HEEL- SEAT FITTING MACHINE John W. French, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 7, 1940, Serial No. 339,342

20 Claims. (01. 1231.5)

This invention relates to heel-seat fitting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for trimming the heel end portions of attached soles of shoes for the reception of interlocking heels, such as are described in United States Letters.Patent No, 2,121,172, granted June 21, 1938, on an application filed in the name of Fred C. Loveioy.

As disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,170,842, granted August 29, 1939, on an application filed in the name of William D. Thomas, it is common practice in the manufacture of shoes having interlocking heels to trim the heel end portion of the sole by a straight out extending from one lateral margin of the sole to the other, the rear end of the sole of the finished shoe being included in a groove formed in the upper end of the breast of the interlocking heel. It has been found that when the portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located just rearward of the heel-breast line of the sole have not been beveled to thin edges, as they commonly are during the shank reducing operation, the lateral margins of the fitted sole above referred to are crowded with considerable difficulty into the end portions of said groove of the heel. Accordingly, it is sometimes the practice to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole of the shoe and to trim theportions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders to feather edges, thereby insuring that the sole may be quickly and effectively inserted into the groove, care being taken, however, to extend the bevels to the lateral edges of the heel-breast portion of the sole so as to insure that the rear end of the shank portion of the sole shall be eifectively supported across its entire width.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for quickly and efiectively trimming the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe to the proper length for reception in a groove formed in the upper end of the breast of an interlocking heel, forming heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole and beveling the lateral margin portions of the sole which are located just rearward of said shoulders to the form just described.

With the above object in view, and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, there is provided a heel-seat fitting machine comprising a support for the heel end portion of a sole, means for forming heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and for forming at the lateral margins of the sole beveling out which are the heel end portion of the sole and the upper of a shoe to which the sole is attached. In order to position the sole lengthwise upon the plate, there is provided a back gage similar in construction to that disclosed in the above-mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,170,842, the heel end portion of the sole being positioned widthwise upon the plate, in accordance with another feature of the present invention, by a pair of fingers which are pivoted to said plate and are movable against the opposite lateral edges of the sole in response to movement of the back gage. In order to assist the above-mentioned plate in effectively supporting the sole during the heel-seat fitting operation, the centralizing fingers are provided with crease finders which fit in the rand crease of the shoe just ahead of a straight front edge of the crease plate, when said fingers are in engagement with the lateral edges of the sole.

In the illustrative machine, the means for forming the heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole and for beveling portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders comprises a pair of knives pivoted upon blocks which may be initially adjusted equal distances in opposite directions widthwise of the sole of the positioned shoe in the machine. Each of the knives has an angular cutting edge, the knives being swung away from each other and toward the lateral margins of the sole supported by the plate and the crease finders, thereby forming the heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and bevelling to feather edges lateral margin portions of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders. The means for reducing the heel end portion of the sole to the proper lengthto fit in the groove of the interlocking heel to be positioned upon the shoe comprises a knife which is movable at right angles to the general plane of the heel end portion of the sole and past the front edge of the crease plate into engagement with the crease finders of the centralizing fingers, the knife performing its trimming out while the shoulder forming and beveling knives are at the outer limits of their strokes.

By the use of the above-mentioned machine, attached soles of shoes may be fitted for the reception of interlocking heels quicker and more effectively than has heretofore been possible.

The above and various other features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views, partly broken away, of the illustrative machine as viewed from the left side and from the left rear portion respectively of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly broken away and partly in section on line III-III .of Fig. 2, of the machine in the process of operating upon a shoe;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views, partly broken away and partly in section, of portions 'of the machine shown in 'Fig. 2 during two different stages of :the sole trimming operation;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing in perspective the sole of the shoe'in process of being trimmed by one 'of the shoulder forming and 'beveling knives of the machine;

Fig. 7 shows in perspective a shoe and mechanism for positioning the same in the machine;

Fig. 8 .is a side elevation, partly in section, of portions of the shoe positioning mechanism shown in Fig.3 when the'machine is idle;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of portions of the machine as viewed in the direction indicated by arrows 'IX-'IX of Fig. '5;

Fig. 10 is 'a perspective view of a slide and mechanism secured thereto through which the knives of the machine are operated;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sections on lines XI-XI and 'IGI'XII respectively of Fig. 10;

"Fig. '13 is a perspective view showing a gib of the machine;

'Fig. 14 is a perspective view of an interlocking .heel; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the heel end of the shoe after it has been operated upon by the machine, with the heel of "Fig. 14 shown in dash lines secured .to the shoe.

shoulders by beveling cuts34, and a knife movable'past a front edge 38 (Figs. 2, l7 and 8) of the plate to trim thesole to the proper length to fit in .a sole .receivinggroove 40 (Fig. 14) of the heel and to remove from the sole chips 42 (Fig. 6) previously gouged from the sole by the knives .30. The various advantages of the interlocking heel 28 and shoe construction will be fully understood after reading the above-mentioned .Letters Patent No. 2,121,172.

The major portion of the illustrative.ma-chine is practically identical with a heel-seat fitting machine which'is disclosed in'United States Letters Patent No. 2,053,295, granted September 8, 1936, on an application filed in the name of Fred 'L. MacKenzie, andis adapted to reduce the heelseat portions of attached soles of shoes for the reception of Cuban or Louis heels, portions of such machine, which will hereafter be referred to as the regular machine, being removed and replaced by other mechanism in order to adapt the machine to reduce the heel end portions of attached soles of shoes for the reception of interlocking heels. In order to equip the machine disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,053,295 for interlocking work, a knife slide 44 (Figs. 1, 2 and 10), a gib 46 (Figs. 1 and 13) and a lever 48 (Fig. l) are substituted for corresponding but differently shaped members of the regular machine. The gib 46 has a forwardly projecting flange 50 (Fig. 1-3) to which is secured by screws 52 a stationary bracket 54 of a gouging unit 56 (Figs. v1, 2, 4 and 5) comprising the sole gouging knives 30, another bracket 60 which, as will appear later, is operatively connected to the knives 30 being secured to the slide 44 by screws 62. Secured to the slide 44 by screws 64 (Figs. 2 and 10) is -a carrier 66 (Figs. 1, 2 and 10) to which the sole reducing knife '36 is initially secured, the arrangement being such that the carrier *may be readily secured to and removed from the slide without disturbing the adjustment of the knife with relation to said slide. The gib 46 is secured by screws 68 (Fig. 1-3') to aguide 10 (Figs. 2 and '13) and together with the guide serves as a guide for the vertical slide 44. As disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,053,295, the guide 10* may be angularly adjusted to a slight extent about 'a horizontal axis extending along the front edge 30 of the sole supporting plate 28, but for purposes of this invention may be considered as part of the stationary machine frame.

It will be noted that when the machine is to operate upon interlocking work, there is no need for the heel-seat reducing cutter (not shown) of the regular machine and, accordingly, such cutter and a carrier therefor which are secured to a flange 72 (Figs. 1 and 2) of a slide 74 are removed from the machine. For reasons which will-appearlater, when the machine is operating upon interlocking work it is desirable that the flange l2 serve as 'a guide and that the slide 14 'be stationary. Accordingly, the slide 14 is disconnected from its actuating mechanism and is secured against movement in itsguideway.

When operating'upon interlocking work, ithas been found advantageous to centralize shoes by means of sole engaging fingers 16 which are pivoted upon fulcrum pins 18 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8) secured to the sole supporting plate :28, and will later be described .in detail, instead of .using the bifurcated centralizinggage (not shown) o'f'the regular machine. Accordingly, in'the illustrative machine the centralizing gage is removed from the machine.

The shoe is positioned lengthwise in the machine by a back gage 82 (Figs. 3.and '8) which may be substituted for a corresponding back gage such as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,099,698, granted November 23, 1937, on an application filed in the name of Ralph S. Megathlin, which shows an improved back gage of thegeneral type disclosed in said Letters Patent No. 2,053,295.

In presenting the shoe to the machine, the

.rear .end of the shoe the .heel end portion 20 of the sole 22 0f which overlies the plate 28 is forced against the back gage 8.2, causing the same 1170 move rearward, a carrier slide 84 upon which theback gage is mounted'thereby moving a stop slide 86 rearward until a block 88 pivoted to the stop slide engages a spiral cam 90 (Fig. 3) cperatively connected to a movable abutment 92 (Figs. 1 and 4) of a gage 94 in which the interlocking heel to be applied to the shoe is measured lengthwise. In the illustrative machine the stop slide 86 is constantly urged forward by a spring 95 (Figs. 1 and 2) instead of by the abovementioned bifurcated centralizing gage (not shown) which, as above stated, is removed from the machine equipped for interlocking work. Forward movement of the stop slide 86 under the action of the spring 95 is limited by a suitable stop (not shown). Except for the above-mentioned diiferences the illustrative heel gaging and shoe positioning mechanism is practically identical with corresponding mechanism of the abovementioned Letters Patent No. 2,170,842 and, accordingly, it will not be necessary further to describe such mechanism herein.

The forward ends of the centralizing fingers T6 are constantly urged away from each other by a spring 95 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) the opposite ends of which embrace studs =98 secured to the respective fingers. Outward movement of the forward ends of the fingers 16 under the action of the spring 96 is limited by the engagement of pposed edges I 98 (Figs. 3 and 7) of the fingers with each other. Movable along a dovetail guideway I02 (Figs. 3, 7 and 8) at the under side of the sole supporting plate 23 is a slide Hid having an'elongated recess H38 (Figs. 3 and 8) shaped and arranged to receive the upper end of a lever H38 pivoted upon a fulcrum pin III) secured to the back gage 82. The rear end of the back gage 82 is channeled toreceive vertical flanges H2 at the forward end of the carrier slide 84. .Fne back gage 82 is constantly held in its raised operative position adjacent to the sole supporting plate 23 by a spring H4 the upper end of which embraces a stud H5 threaded into the carrier slide 84 and the lower end of which is operatively connected to a stud I I8 secured to the back gage 82, the spring H4 serving to retain the stud H8 in engagement with a shoulder I on the slide.

When the machine is at rest the lever IE8 is held in forced engagement with a shoulder I22 (Figs. 3 and 8) of the gage 82, as illustrated in Fig. 8, by a spring I24 positioned by a screw I26 and a stud i128 carried by a depending portion of the gage and a lower portion of the lever, respectively. Secured by the screw I26 to the lower end of the gage 82 is a leaf spring I39 which frictionally engages the lower end of the lever I08 and insures against said lever flipping about on the back gage.

When the back gage 82 is moved rearward by the shoe from its forward idle position shown in Fig. 8, the rear end of the slide I04 is forced against the fingers 75, with the result that the upstanding lugs I32 at the forward ends of the fingers are forced against the lateral edges of the shank portion of the attached sole of the shoe to centralize the same in the machine, and crease finder portions I3 1 (Figs. 4 and 6) of the fingers, which engage the upper face of the sole, enter the rand crease of the shoe in the vicinity of its heel-breast line, the finder portions being arranged immediately in front of the plate 28. With the above arrangement it will be noted that when the lugs I32 of the fingers 16 have been forced against the lateral edges of the sole of the shoe as above described, and the shoe and the back gage continue to be moved rearward during the lengthwise positioning of the shoe in the machine, the shoulder I22 of the back gage 82 moves away from the lever I08 which turns on the fulcrum pin III) to its position shown in Fig. 3 against the action of the spring I24. The spring I24 is sufficiently strong to insure that the lugs I32 of the fingers 15 shall effectively centralize the shoe, but is not strong enough to cause the lugs to buckle up the lateral edges of the sole.

After the shoe has been positioned in the machine, the operator depresses a treadle connected to a rod I36 (Fig. 1) causing a rod I38 (Figs. 1 and 3) to be lowered. Yieldingly connected to the rod I38 is a housing I40 for receiving a common shank portion I42 (Fig. 3) of a pair of clamps I44 which, when lowered, force the heel end of the attached sole of the shoe with con-:- siderable pressure against the plate 28.

In order to insure that the shoe centralizing fingers I6 shall be readily secured in their gaging positions against the lateral edges of the sole, there is provided a slide I46 (Figs. 1, 2, '3 and 7 which has a wedge portion I48 and fits in a guideway I50 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the flange I2 of the slide 14. As above explained, when the machine is operating upon regular work the slide I4 is operative but when the machine is operating upon interlocking work the slide is held fixed in a predetermined position. Pivoted to the slide I46 is a link I52. The rear end of the link I52 is pivoted to the lower end of an arm E54 (Fig. 1) which is pivoted upon a depend ing projection of the lever 48 and is constantly urged forward with relation to the lever by a spring E56 the rear and front ends of which are connected to the arm and to the lever, respectively. It will thus be clear that when the treadle rod I35 is depressed to force the clamps I44 (Fig. 3) against the heel end 26 of the attached sole 22 of the shoe positioned upon the plate 28 and to trip a clutch (not shown) of the machine, the wedge I 38 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7) of the slide I46 is forced with yielding pressure against the edges I00 (Fig. 7) of the fingers I6 and remains in forced engagement with said edges until the sole has been trimmed and the treadle rod raised.

The mechanism for forming the heel-breast receiving shoulders 32 (Figs. 5 and 15) and for beveling the lateral margins of the sole immediately rearward of the shoulders will now be described. As above stated, secured by the screws 52 (Fig. 13) to the fixed gib 4% is the stationary'bracket 54 which has at its rear face a horizontal dovetail projection I 58. Mounted for transverse adjustment along the dovetail projection I58 are right and left blocks I60 into bosses I62 of which are threaded rightand left-hand threaded portions, respectively, of a screw I66. Secured to the central part of the screw I54 and fitting between flanges I66 of the bracket 54 is a serrated disk I58, the flanges having notches for receiving the screw. Pinned to the outer end of the screw I54 is a thumb nut I18 through the provision of which the screw may be conveniently turned to move the blocks I60 equal distances in opposite directionswith relation to a vertical plane of reference I12 (Fig. 2). The screw I64 is held in its adjusted position by a spring pressed detent I13 (Fig. 9) which is constantly forced against the serrated disk.

Mounted upon fulcrum pins I'M (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6) secured to depending pOrtionsof the blocks I60 are angular knife supports I16 the lower arms of which are channeled to receive flanged portions I'I8 (Fig. 6) of the knives 30, and having elongated slots I 80. The knives 30 are adjustablysecured to the lower arms .of the knife supports I16 by screws I82 which pass through the slots I89, respectively, and are threaded into the knives.

As abovestated, connected'by the screws 16.2 to a flange of the slide 44 .is .the bracket .66 :and mounted upon forward and rearward extending fulcrum pins 184 secured to the bracket .are links :IBB (Figs. 3, '4,:5.and 6) the lower ends of which are connected by laterally extending fulcrum :pins 488 .(Fig. 3) :to intermediate links I80. llhe intermediate links I90 in turn .are connected by laterally extending pivot pins I92 (Fig. 3) to bottom links I94 the lower ends of which are mounted upon forwardly and rearwardly extending fulcrum lpins I95 pinned to the upper .arms of the knife supports I16.

Each of the knives 30 has a slightly rounded cutting edge [9.8 for forming one of the heelbreast receiving shoulders 32 upon the sole and has .a straight .angularly disposed cutting edge .-200.for beveling alateral margin of the sole immediately :rearward of said shoulder. The knives 30 maybe described as having angularly disposed cutting edges I98, 200 forgouging the sole to form the heel-breast receiving shoulders .32 on the sole and reducing the lateral margins of the sole immediately rearward of the shoulders by the beveling cuts 34.

As-above stated, the blocks I61) are stationary during the operation of the machine but may be initially adjusted equal distances toward and .away from the plane of reference 2 by turning the screw I64. In order that the operator may quicklyand eifectively set the blocks I68 in their operative positions in accordance with the width of the sole of a shoe to be trimmed, there is provided a bell-crank lever 282 (Fig. 9) which is .pivoted upon -a fulcrum pin 204 secured to the bracket 54 and has a pointer 296 arranged to swing into different positions over a graduated scale 208 secured to the bracket. The rear arm .of the bell-crank lever .202 is pivoted to an arm 2Ill which is mounted upon a fulcrum pin 2I2 secured to the left-hand block Hit]. With the above arrangement it will be clear that the operator turns the screw I64 until the pointer 265 registers with a number on the scale 208 corresponding to the size of a shoe to be operated upon, so that the knives 30 shall be initially .set widthwise of the sole to form upon the sole of that particular shoe beveling .cuts 34 which are featheredged at the lateral margins of the .sole. As a safety precaution, a transparent Cel- .-1uloid .plate 214 is secured to the bracket 54 .by screws H6.

The sole reducing knife 36 .has .a shank which fits .in'an undercut .guideway 2I8 (Figs. 11 and .12) of the knife carrier 66 and has a recess for .receiving a Mg 220 (Fig. .11) extending from a block 222 (Figs. 10 .and 11-). Journaled in the knife carrier 66 is a screw 224 which is threaded into the block .222 and may be initially rotated to adjust the knife .36 with relation to the knife carrier 13.6. In order effectively to bind the knife 36 to the carrier .66 after the above-mentioned adjustment has been effected, there is provided a -clamp 226 (Fig. 12) a threadedshank 228 (Figs.

10 and 12) of which extends through the recess :in the knife carrier and may be effectively secured to the carrier by a nut 230. As .above described, the knife carrier 65 is .secured to the operating slide 44 by screws 64 which pass through bores in the plate and are threaded into the-slide.

In order to facilitate placing the heel end of the attached sole-of a shoe upon the plate, there is provideda guide .232 (Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive) the forward :end of which .is secured to the bracket .54 .and the .rear end of which is located .justabove and in front of the .front edge '38 of thesole supporting plate 28 and just above the bottom face .of the .sole of the shoe.

After the heel end .20 of the attached sole 22 of the :shoe 24 has been effectively clamped against the .plate .28, the one-revolution clutch (notshown) is tripped, causing the slide 44 to be lowered. During the first part of the downward movement of the slide 44 the bracket is lowered .and causes, through the abovedescribed :mechanism, the knives 30 to pivot about the fulcrum pins I'I4 mounted upon the blocks I66 and to .move downward and away from each. other to form the heel-breast receiving shoulders .32 and also to form the beveling cuts 34 immediately rearwardly of said shoulders. After the knives .39 have completed their cuts the trailing knife 36 passes downwardly between the outswung knives 30, as shown in Fig. 5, and moves past the forward edge 38 of the plate 28 and into engagement with the crease finders I34 of the :centralizing fingers 16 to form the shoulder 234 (Fig. 15) upon the'sole, thereby trimming the sole to the proper length to fit in the groove fill in the breast of the interlocking heel 26. The shoulder .234 may be described as extending in the direction of thickness of the sole from one face of the sole to the other and transversely across the'sole .from'one lateral edge of the sole to the other. In forming the shoulder 234, the knife :36 moves atapproximately right angles to the general plane of the heel end of the bottom face of the sole and may be described as moving at approximately right angles to the lengthwise median line :of the sole. It will be noted that when the lugs I32 of the fingers I6 engage the lateral edges of the sole, the faces I34 of the fingers engagethe flesh side of the sole and cooperate with the plate 28 in sup-porting the sole against the action of the knives 30 and 36.

Although the illustrative machine is provided with the above-described mechanism for trimming attached soles of shoes to the proper lengths, it is contemplated, if desirable, to remove the material from the rear ends of the soles before their attachment to the shoes, in which event the knife '36 is removed from the machine, the knives operating as above described to form the heel-breast receiving shoulders 32 and the beveling cuts 34 on such pretrimmed soles.

Having described my invention, what I claim .as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

l. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in .combination, .a support for the heel end portion of .a sole, means for forming heel-breast receivin shoulders on the sole and for forming at the lateral margins of the sole beveling cuts which are located immediately rearward of the shouldersrespectively, and means for removing mate- --ria1 from the .heel end portion of the .sole by a .cut intersecting .the beveling cuts made by the first-named meansand forming at the rear end of the sole a shoulder which extends in the direction of thickness of the sole from one face .of the sole to the other and transversely across the sole from one lateral edge of the sole to the other.

2. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for the heel end portion of a sole, a pair of knives having angular cutting edges, means for operating said knives to form heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel the lateral margins of the sole adjacent to said shoulders, a third knife, and means for moving said third knife in a path which is disposed at approximately right angles to the lengthwise median line of .the sole to remove material from the heel end portion of the sole by a cut which intersects the beveling cuts made by said pair of knives, said out forming at the rear end of the sole a shoulder which extends in the direction of thickness of the sole from one face of the sole to the other and which extends transversely across the sole from one lateral edge of the sole to the other.

3. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for the heel end portion of a sole, knives having angular cutting edges, means for moving said knives away from each other in the general direction of the thickness of the sole and toward the lateral margins respectively of the sole to form heel-breast re ceiving shoulders on the same and to bevel por-- tions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders, and a knife for trimming material from the heel end portion of the sole by a out which extends from one lateral edge of the sole to the other and intersects the beveling cuts made by the first-named knives.

4. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a pair of knives each having an angular cutting edge, means lor swinging said knives in predetermined paths to form heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel the lateral margins of the sole adjacent to and rearward of said shoulders, and a cutter movable at a substantial angle to the general plane of the heel end of the sole in a path intersecting the paths of movement of the bevelforming edges of said knives to reduce material from the heel end of the sole, said cutter together with the angular knives forming a tab shaped and arranged to fit in a sole receiving slot of an interlocking heel.

5. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a fixed support for the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a pair of stationary blocks, a pair of knives pivoted upon the blocks respectively, each of said knives having an angular cutting edge, mechanism for operating said knives to form heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel the lateral margins of the sole immediately rearward of said shoulders, a cutter mounted for movement at approximately right angles to the general plane of the heel end of the sole, and means movable in timed relation with said mechanism for operating said cutter to trim the rear end of the sole from one lateral edge to the other.

6. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a fixed support for the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a pair of blocks, a pair of knives pivoted upon the blocks respectively, each of said knives having an angular cutting edge, a cutter movable in a path disposed at approximately right angles to the general plane of the heel end of the sole, means for initially adjusting said blocks equal distances in opposite directions widthwise of the sole, mechanism for operating said knives to form heelbreast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel the lateral margins of the sole immediately rearward of said shoulders and then to swing the knives outwardly away from the lateral margins of the sole, and means for operating said cutter to trim the heel end portion of the sole by a cut extending from one lateral edge of the sole to the other.

'7. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate shaped and arranged to be received between the heel end of the upper of a shoe and the heel end portion of an attached sole of the shoe, said plate having a front edge, movable members for supporting the lateral margin portions of a sole which are located just forward of said front edge of the plate, a pair of knives each having cutting edges, means for moving the knives in predetermined paths toward the lateral margins respectively of the sole and toward the plate to form heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders and are supported by said members, and a knife movable past the front edge of the plate and intersecting the paths of movement of cutting edges of first-named knives to remove material from the heel end of the sole and to cooperate with said first-named knives to fit the sole for reception in a groove in the upper end of the breast of an interlocking heel to be attached to the shoe.

8. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate shaped and arranged to support the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a pair of members pivoted to the plate, said members being constructed and arranged to position the heel end portion of the sole widthwise upon the plate, and'means operative by pressure of the shoe for causing the members to centralize the heel end portion of the sole upon the plate.

9. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate which is shaped and arranged to support the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe and has a thin front edge, a pair of members pivoted to the plate, said members being shaped and arranged to engage the opposite lateral edges of the sole of the shoe and to be engaged in the rand crease of the shoe, means actuated by pressure of the shoe for causing said members to centralize the heel end portion of the sole upon the plate, knives each having angularly disposed cutting edges, means for operating said knives to form heel-breast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located just rearwardly of said shoulders, and a knife movable past the front edge of the plate to reduce the heel end portion of the sole.

10. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate shaped and arranged to support the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe and having a thin front edge, a pair of members pivoted to the plate, said members being constructed and arranged to position the heel end portion of the sole widthwise upon the plate and having rand crease engaging portions, means actuated by movement of the shoe for causing said members to centralize the shoe and to be moved into the rand crease of the shoe, knives each having angularly disposed cutting edges, means for swinging said knives toward the centralizing. members respectively to form heelbreast receiving shoulders on the sole and to bevel. portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located just rearwardly of said shoulders, and a knife movable past said front edge of the plate to reduce material from the heel end portion of the sole by a cut extending from one lateral edge of the sole to the other.

11. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate constructed and arranged to be interposed between the heel end of the upper of a shoe and the heel end portion of an attached. sole of the shoe, a movable back gage constructed and arranged to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe, centralizing-fingers arranged at opposite sides of the sole of the shoe which is in engagement with the back gage, a stop constructed and arranged to limit movement of the back gage operated by the pressure of the shoe thereby positioning said shoe lengthwise in the machine, means for setting the stop in a predetermined position, and means movable in response to movement of said back gage for forcing the centralizing fingers against the opposite lateral edges of the sole of the shoe.

12. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate constructed and arranged to be interposed between an upper of a shoe and the heel end portion of an attached sole of the shoe, a movable back gage constructed and arranged to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe, centralizing fingers pivoted to the plate and having portions shaped and arranged to engage the opposite lateral edges of the shank portion of the sole of the shoe which is in engagement with the back gage, a stop for limiting movement of the back gage under pressure of the shoe thereby positioning the shoe lengthwise in the machine, means for setting the stop in a predetermined position, and means movable in response to said movement of the back gage for forcing the centralizing fingers against the opposite lateral edges of the sole of the shoe.

13. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in

combination, a plate constructed and arranged to bev interposed between the heel end of the upper of a shoe and the heel end portion of an attached sole of the shoe, a movable back gage shaped and arranged to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe, centralizing fingers shaped and arranged to engage the opposite lateral edges of the shank portion of the sole of the shoe in engagement with the back gage, a stop for limiting movement of the back gage under pressure of the shoe to position the shoe lengthwise in the machine, means for moving the stop into a predetermined position, and means movable in response to movement of the back gage for forcing the centralizing fingers against the opposite lateral edges of the sole of the shoe, said means comprising yieldable mechanism constructed and arranged to permit the gage to continue its movement to its gaging position determined by the stop after said fingers have been forced against the sole.

14. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate for supporting the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a movable back gage shaped and arranged to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe, a stop for limiting movement of the back gage engaged by the shoe to position said shoe lengthwise, means for initially setting the stop in a predetermined position in accordance with the length of a heel to be attached to the shoe, a pair of fingers pivoted to the plate and constructed and arranged to be forced against the opposite lateral edges of the sole of the shoe to centralize the heel end portion of the sole upon the plate, and yieldable connections responsive to movement of the back gage for moving the centralizing fingers equal distances in opposite directions to centralize the heel end portion of the sole upon said plate.

15. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate for supporting the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, a movable back gage shaped and arranged to be engaged by the rear end of the shoe, a stop for limiting movement of the back gage engaged by the shoe to position the shoe lengthwise, means for setting the stop in a predetermined position in accordance with the length of a heel to be attached to the shoe, a pair of fingers pivoted to the plate and constructed and arranged to be forced against opposite lateral edges of th sole, yieldable connections responsive to movement of the back gage for moving the centralizing fingers equal distances in opposite directions to centralize the heel end of the sole of the shoe upon the plate, and a lock for fixing the fingers in their centralizing positions against the sole.

16. A heel-seat fitting machine having, incombination, a plat for supporting the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, shoe positioning means comprising a pair of centralizing, fingers constructed and arranged to engage the op,- posite lateral edges of the shank portion of the sole of the shoe, said fingers having crease finders for supporting the lateral margins of said sole in the vicinity of its heel-breast line, a pair of knives each having angular cutting edges, means for moving said knives away from each other and toward the plate to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole and to bevel the lateral margins of the sole immediately rearward of said shoulders, and a knife movable at approximately right angles to the sole and into approximate engagement with said crease finders to reduce material from the heel end portion of the sol by a cut extending from one lateral edge of the sole to the other and to remove from said sole chips which are gouged from the sole by the first,- named knives.

17. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plate for supporting the heel end portion of an attached sole of a shoe, said plate having a front edge, a pair of fingers having crease engaging portions and centralizing portions which are arranged ahead of the front edge of the plate, means for operating the fingers to cause said crease engaging portions of the fingers to enter the rand crease of the shoe and to cause the centralizing portions of the fingers to position the sole of the shoe widthwise upon said plate, and a knife movable past the front edge of the plate and into approximate engagement with the crease engaging portions of the fingers.

18. A heel-seat fitting machine having, incombination, a plate for supporting the heel end port i on of an attached sole of a shoe, said plate having a thin front edge, a pair of fingers which are pivoted to the plate and the forward portions of which are located in front of the plate and are shaped and arranged to centralize the heel end pfiion of the sole upon the plate and to support the lateral margin portions of the sole which are located immediately rearward of the heel-breast line of the sole, and means for reducing the heel end portion of the sole supported by the plat -and by said fingers for the reception of an interlocking heel.

19. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for the heel end portion of the sole of a shoe, a pair of knives, each of said knives having cutting edges which are disposed at approximately right angles to each other, a pair of blocks to which the knives respectively are pivoted, means for initially adjusting the blocks toward or away from each other widthwise of the sole in accordance with the size of the shoe being operated upon, means for swinging th knives away from each other and toward the sole of the shoe to form heel-breast receiving shoulders upon the sole and to bevel portions of the lateral margins of the sole which are located immediately rearward of said shoulders, and a gage for facilitating the initial setting of the blocks in accordance with the width of the shoe being operated upon.

20. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a support for the heel end portion of the sole of a shoe, a pair of knives, each of said knives having a cutting edge for forming a heelbreast receiving shoulder upon the sole of the shoe and an edge for beveling a marginal portion of the sole immediately rearward of said shoulder, each of the bevel forming cutting edges of the knives being relatively straight and each of the shoulder forming cutting edges of the knives being slightly rounded and projecting beyond an adjacent bevel forming cutting edge.

JOHN W. FRENCH. 

